Overview
As Africans, one of the things that set us apart from the rest of the world is our belief and practice of Ubuntu – an age-old African concept for humanness, caring, sharing, promoting cooperation between individuals, cultures and nations.
It is in this spirit that the Eskom Development Foundation was formed in 1988. Sinobuntu, meaning we care, is one of Eskom’s core values and is put into action through the Guardian-i-Volunteer programme. The GiV programme encourages Eskom employees to contribute to uplifting their local community.
Over the years, many Eskom Guardians have rallied the call to give back, have given their time and skills to assist a number of worthy charity organisations and we have seen the number of Guardian i-Volunteers (GiV) has grown substantially.
The GiV programme, which was initiated in 2009, seeks to encourage a spirit of volunteerism amongst Eskom employees. The GiV programme allows interested staff the opportunity to give their time to those they deem to be vulnerable and in need.
International Mandela Day
For 365 days of the year Eskom focuses on generating and distributing electricity across South Africa. But occasionally Eskom volunteers stop what they are doing and do something that more directly improves the lives of ordinary people.
Mandela Day is one of those days and every year we aim to emulate the culture of social commitment and upliftment that Tata Mandela embodied.
Every year a different welfare organisation is selected by each GiV team and Eskom staff commit to a day of service in honour of Nelson Mandela’s birthday.
In 2013 the Eskom Foundation supported the New Jerusalem Children’s Home by upgrading walkways and paths, painting the jungle gyms, planting a vegetable garden and upgrading the rooms and dormitories with new linen and curtains.
In 2014 the Eskom Foundation contributed to the legacy of Nelson Mandela by volunteering at the Natalspruit Hospital. The hospital was established in 1940 and has approximately 1600 personnel treating 800 patients. The Eskom Foundation and other stakeholders rolled up their sleeves and got their hands dirty by cleaning, cooking and rearranging the play room for the children, among other tasks that at the Foundation offered Natalspruit Hospital on the 18 July 2014.
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